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June 3, 1998
SPECIALS
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How readers reacted to Dilip D'Souza's recent columns
Date sent: Tue, 26 May 1998 14:37:46 -0500
I agree with several other readers that this column is pathetic. He is unnecessarily mixing various issues that should be dealt with separately. No one says that there are no poor people in India. But Mr D'Souza, can you show me at least one country where there are no poor people ? I have seen children begging on the streets, not only of Bombay, but also of New Orleans in the United States. However, I have not read of any American journalist attributing this poverty to their nuclear arsenal. After all, they know that they will get the chances to improve this lot of the poor only if America survives. Therefore, the security of the nation is of utmost concern to them. Unfortunately, devil's advocates like you can not understand this. You are only interested in criticising others. Ketan Desai
Date sent: Fri, 22 May 1998 21:19:14 +0400
Dilip, Though I am no supporter of the bomb, your reasoning against the use of bombs is paralytically lame and weak-kneed. Patriotism, at times may be the refuge of a fool. And unreasoned pacifism the refuge of a journalistic quack. Nikhil
Date sent: Fri, 22 May 1998 10:14:23 -0400
I must honestly say that the BJP's narrow-minded political stunt (the N-bomb) even had me fooled for a while.... The sudden rush of pseudo-patriotism that many people have felt did almost deceive me into a false state of nationalistic fervour! But Dilip's article certainly confirms our concerns about India's silly excuse for a government. Yes, to many people's disappointment, Vajpayee has proved he is just as human as any other politician in India... Too bad for all those "patriots". As Dilip says, the nukes have only undermined our security and tarnished our image. I'm sad to say that the BJP has achieved exactly what they wanted...euphoric patriotism that would translate to votes in the next election should Jaya pull the plug. It's time we stopped being fooled.
Date sent: Fri, 22 May 1998 11:01:59 -0500
Hi Dilip, I don't know how you manage to get your column into Rediff... May be you have some friends out there in Rediff who bows to your pressure. I read your Ganne Ka Ras column and found you have a lack of understanding about the importance of national security and Independence. May be you should read about our history, how India was occupied and ruled by the Moghuls and later by the Brits. It would be better if you discuss hafta, seasonal juice and gupchup etc to the ganne ka ras seller and talk about nukes with our military bigwigs. Stop writing those stupid columns. srinu
Date sent: Fri, 22 May 1998 14:45:16 +0700
This is with reference to the article by D'Souza. I agree with D'Souza that India and the Indian PM should concentrate more on issues like poverty etc. But, how can this be achieved when the country and its citizens feel insecure, being surrounded by rogue states? For your information, India is already spending billions of rupees to sustain a nuclear programme. Nuclear energy is used mainly for civilian purposes such as electricity generation. So, it does not make much of a difference (monetarily) if we conduct a few nuclear tests. The idea is not to stockpile a huge nuclear arsenal. By conducting these tests, India has made a strong case to the world (especially the declared nuclear powers) that nuclear proliferation can be stopped only if the declared powers disarm themselves first. If this happens, then India too can dismantle its nuclear weapons (without threats from its neighbours) and spend the money on other important issues.
Date sent: Fri, 22 May 1998 07:31:59 PDT
Dilip has brought forth some valid points which we have to consider. This is not an India-Pakistan cricket match or an India-China table-tennis match that will take place, using nuclear weapons. It is war. For all those people who don't know what the consequences of a nuclear war are, it will be good for them to consider the effects of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki tragedy in World War II. I am not disputing India's security concerns -- a big country like India needs to continue strengthening its army, navy and air force. But why go nuclear? We could have addressed our security concerns even without building a nuclear bomb. Haven't we been able to defend ourselves all these years without one? Now some people will argue to the fact that it is not enough, because Pakistan and China have nuclear bombs and we need them too, just to show them. What do you mean, 'Show them?' Are we playing children's games here? If China has a bomb, I too will go get one so that I can frighten him! No, we are playing with death. Already Pakistan has started problems along the border and stepped up its efforts to build a nuke bomb. China has reacted strongly to the comments some Indian ministers have made. The result is that the fledgling peace talks between these countries are now destroyed. Whatever efforts made for peace are dashed! Some people will argue that we don't want to make peace with Pakistan and China when they are invading our territories. True! They are showing what they are made of -- deceit, lies, hypocrisy. But then should we act in the same way? Do we have to go beyond our actual security needs? We have always been in a position to defend ourselves. And what can puny Pakistan do to our great country? But in our unbridled so-called "patriotism", we have gone overboard, this time. We have pushed ourselves to the brink of a conflict with Pakistan and China -- a conflict which never seemed as dangerously poised as it is today. In a nuclear war there are no winners, there is only loss -- loss of loved ones, loss of funds, loss of peace... Friends, just think -- Did we have to do it? But now that we are a nuclear state, we have got to try and get the other so-called "nuclear club" members to renounce their nuclear artillery so that the world will continue to exist. Jai Hind Stephen Dantas
Date sent: Fri, 22 May 1998 10:12:00 +0530
Excellent. That's what I feel about the way Dilip D'Souza writes. He somehow manages to express his thoughts in a way all of us would like to but never get around to doing. In fact when I log onto Rediff, the first thing I do is scroll down to see if there is any article by him. Hats off to him. Meher Mistri
Date sent: Thu, 21 May 1998 19:08:48 -0400 (EDT)
I disagree with Dilip's view. He might be correct in thinking of the huge support for the Indian nuclear tests is the reason for people to project themselves as patriots. But then on he goes wrong. First of all, the economic situation of the country is not related to the security of the country. The country can live by itself even if the economic situation is bad but a weak country surrounded by powerful and hostile neighbours can't survive. Remember 1962, 1965 and 1971, besides the waves of terrorism now? Let me remind him of the country's strong economic situation when the British came to India. If we had not been divided, the course of history could have changed. Now, to the charges levelled against the country. Are there no poor in other countries, the USA included? What about human rights violation of the blacks in NY city? Does the USA have an answer? Also, in a country as diverse as India, any decision will face opposition. Let me remind him that India is a democratic country and the government's decision is deemed the decision of the whole country and it's people. If you complain about the way the government is made nowadays then it's our fault. We chose the government; we voted. Let me remind you that when the BJP-led UP government passed a law to restrict cheating in the board exams, then our great (uneducated) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav promised to abolish the law if elected. And he got elected. Now anyone can claim that he used unfair means, but he did win the election, didn't he? Whether a decision is right or wrong is based on one's conscience, and the conscience always speaks the truth if one is truthful to oneself. Reading further one finds that you are grossly incorrect in thinking how the world runs. Nuclear India is not aggressive as its neighbours. Turning your back to the truth doesn't help look at the Indians displaced from their homes in Kashmir -- 16,000 died last year there alone. Look at their terror tactics. Does Panchsheel helped India in averting 1962 war? No. Has preaching peace and inviting Pakistan for talks helped India over the last 50 years? It is the right time for India to tell them to stop meddling in our issues. All that crap about the nuclear bomb making us weaker is not worth commenting on. I couldn't find any logic in it. Any country, at any point of time, is threatened in some way or other. The best way is to fight, not to close one's eyes to danger. Let me tell you, every man on earth remains under the constant threat of nuclear attack till all nuclear arms are destroyed. And this is what India should aim at next. Saurabh Maheshwari
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 18:59:34 -0700
Dilip: I understand your sentiments. Unfortunately, we do not live in a world filled with rational, sensible, peace-loving people. Both Pakistan and China have a history of war-mongering. Neither one is a model of democracy. For all the sanctimonious nonsense you are hearing from the US, there are serious concerns about both these nations at the highest levels of government even here. Without deterrence, India would be a sitting duck, since both these nations co-operate closely on defence matters. It is widely suspected that China is aiding Pakistan covertly in the nuclear arena. Yes, it is true that there is poverty and hunger in India. Security, unfortunately, takes precedence over all else. Let us not make the same mistake that India has made repeatedly over the past 1,000 years. We cannot wait till the barbarian is at the gate. I predict that this show of strength will keep the war-mongers at bay. This was the right step. Kris Chandrasekar
Date sent: Thu, 21 May 1998 00:12:13
Please show me at least one article that Mr. Dilip has written with a positive attitude.
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 13:58:24 +0100
A very good article. Many Indians will agree with the views expressed, even though they cannot come out in the open for fear as being called traitors!
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 09:08:50 EDT
Dilip D'Souza seems to care too much that he might be killed by the Ghauri missile because India conducted nuclear tests. What if India did not conduct these tests? Was he not afraid that Pakistan would fire these missiles still? What about the Kashmiris? They face this fear every day. What have any governments (maybe including this one) given them other than assurances? How many times have politicians warned Pakistan of "dire consequences" if they do not leave Kashmir alone? It is very difficult to agree with the view expressed in the article. It seems more anti- BJP rather than anything else. Does the gannawallah care which government is ruling? With governments at the Centre tumbling every six months, which politicians cares whether people go hungry or the infrastructure is in shambles? There was a very nice article I read about India being raided constantly, earlier by the Moghuls and later by the British and the French because it had wealth and no defence to protect this wealth. Is this what we desire? We build everything and some missile comes from the border and we are back to square one. Fear is the ultimate weapon, Mr D'Souza. Instil fear in the enemy and the battle is almost won. Was any previous government ready to warn Pakistan directly? We can now do this because we have shown that we are capable of being powerful. India need not beg to the world for assistance. Is any country saying that it will bar Indians from working in their country? Imagine you wrote all your articles but were not allowed to publish them. This is how the nuclear scientists must have felt. They knew their capabilities, but the lack of tests meant they could not confirm their hypotheses. While peers in other parts of the world laughed in their face. What if these people left India and started working for, let's say, China? Are these people patriots? I think this is a hastily written, politically-motivated article, based on the comments made by a politician. Why relate N-tests to politicians? Let it be related to scientists and military personnel. Bhupesh Sovani
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 04:04:25 -0500
I don't understand why you keep associating India with malaria. I think its too archaic a view of India. There has been significant strides in health care in the decades since Independence. And why should nuke tests be viewed as being related to overall economic development? It's rather sad that writers like you don't take a balanced view of things. And if you didn't know, we have been working on atomic/nuclear research as a nation since the mid-sixties. It's an ongoing effort and we have not dumped all our taxes into this nuke testing effort at the expense of other infrastructure projects. I don't see what you are complaining against. Your whole argument seems too hollow. Maybe it would be more fruitful if you can suggest ways of really improving health care systems through your columns rather than just complain about them. It's always easy to complain, but how about suggesting something that can work for a change? While it does help to have writers like you who take contrary positions to the popular opinion, it would be more respected and listened to if it is based on sound reasoning and reality. Valli
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 08:39:05 EDT
Good stuff. Did you care to verify how many hungry men could have been fed with the money spent on the bomb? Very few! How many drugs produced ? Lives saved? Hunger and poverty and illiteracy and disease are wars too. And they should be fought with the same vigour! I am sure you do not suggest we counter Pakistan's Ghauri with "a simple cure for malaria." We must compartmentalise the challenges facing the country and deal with each one individually! Every spending other than those on hunger and disease cannot and should not be discredited. Your article works on the premise that Pakistan does not have nuclear capability yet. And that it would have it only when it tests the weapons. Ignorance is bliss. And I am sure you are a blissful man. There are no simple equations in war. There are no easy routes to peace. There are only situations of absolute necessity and need. It is sad we did it. But it's definitely for the better. I hope you do not make criticism your agenda and write! I am not a BJP man. But I would have applauded anyone who did this. It's not patriotism, it is pragmatism. Lalit
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 07:42:41 PDT
I read the article by D'Souza. The article was well written, but lacking in facts and wallowing in falsehood. I will make a statement and you tell me if it makes sense: "Do we need the Internet and sites like rediff.com when so many Indians do not even have food? When many Indians in village suffer, you people are happily building Internet sites. This is not fair. Instead, if you would have come with some cure for those poor people then it makes sense" I am sure my statement will seem funny but it is very similar to D'Souza's premise. Indian security and Indian poverty are two separate issues. And he tried to say that Indian poverty must be dealt with and only after finishing that should the other issue be taken up. Indian nuclear tests are not the answer to Indian poverty and those who sees this as a solution should be admitted to a mental asylum. I hope D'Souza will try to see these two things separately in future. Prabhakar S
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 13:06:15 +0530
What has testing of nuclear weapons to do with hunger in India? They belong to two different departments of the government. Let's not criticise one department just because the others have not done their jobs. Can't we work towards the elimination of measles, malaria, etc and also have the bomb? It's true that 75 per cent of the populace don't know about N-weapons, but how many of them will know about the various Remote Sensing Satellites that India has launched to help them? It was brave of D'Souza to take a stand against the tests, knowing that he would attract a lot of criticism. I would like to urge other readers not to hurl abuses at D'Souza, even while arguing against him.
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 17:07:37 +1000
Your article was crappy as usual. I don't want to dignify it by saying anything more.... Madhu Gurnani
Date sent: Tue, 19 May 1998 23:50:54 -0700
I think Dilip has shown more depth and, may I say, 'wisdom', then most writers I find on the Net or elsewhere from the sub-continent. I'll tell you why. If you really look around, beyond the GOI propaganda machine, you will realise India does not have a security problem. China has come into the community of nations on a big scale with its flourishing trade network. There's too much to risk over some silly territorial dispute anyway. Pakistan has major internal problems, many similar to India, and is run through with corruption and dissension. It is heavily dependent on imports, and thus cannot provide any threat to India or anyone else. India can unite under not one but several issues, such as those Dilip mentions in his article. That the GOI chose nuclear tests over desperately needed reforms to upgrade the standard of living for its masses, is clear indication that it could not care less for the majority. I think the Indians who are ganging up against Dilip are really extremist in view when it comes to India, and very insecure. Guys, wake up and smell the stench! It's now coming both from the nuclear tests and the teeming miserables whose future is more uncertain now then ever. Shams
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 08:57:32 +0300
If there is no country, what is Dilip D'Souza going to feed the poor people? There will be no more poor people if there is a war and if India loses (it won't). Will Dilip be still there to talk about hunger and so on? Chand
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 01:35:34 -0400
I agree with your alternate: Let all economic problems be solved. Let Vajpayee cure AIDS and everybody's problems blah blah. But that is not possible and this talk is completely irrelevant. The questions are:
BTW, the US itself has not signed this treaty. Answer that question.
The government did not go ahead. Neither did they meet your expectations of solving Indian hunger, AIDS, and everything else. Vajpayee has just shown political will. India obviously had the technology all along. The answer they have given it is, "India, since it is a nuclear power, wants to sign it as a nuclear country." Ashish
Date sent: Tue, 19 May 1998 22:15:21 -0700 (PDT)
While I agree that support for the nuke blast is no yardstick to judge patriotism, I disagree with Dilip D'Souza blaming the BJP government for India's poverty. They have been in power for hardly two months and he has brought his personal grudges to the fore in his article. In the previous article he wrote, he threw in H K L Bhagat among the unwanted elements. This, he has done only after a long time. Only he knows how many others may have protested like me about him turning a blind eye to the genocide of Sikhs and the subsequent reward he got from Rajiv Gandhi. I have no sympathy for Rajiv's death. Like his mother, he believed in violence and like her he died a terrible death. As for D'Souza's grudge against L K Advani, I should remind him that Advani at no time wanted the mosque demolished. If you recall, he offered to shift the structure and bear the full cost for it. Arvind
Date sent: Tue, 19 May 1998 21:45:31 -0700
The views expressed by Mr DSouza are definitely what is behind the so-called bomb which the 95 per cent patriotic section does not want to acknowledge. Patriotism by these people is just a farce and sham. A true patriot would be the one who sees through all the rhetoric behind the bomb. Well said, D'Souza. Thanks for making me feel I am not the only one who is *un-patriotic*! Vishal |
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